GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - COFCO International on Feb. 20 delivered its first Responsible Agriculture Standard-certified soybeans from Argentina to Vietnam, supplying the country's rapidly expanding feed sector and reinforcing global demand for traceable, deforestation-free commodities in export-driven livestock markets. The shipment is significant for global soybean trade because it strengthens sustainable supply chains between South America and Southeast Asia, a key growth corridor for feed demand.

The cargo originated from COFCO International's operations in Argentina and was transported aboard the MV El Juniper to Phu My Port, near Ho Chi Minh City. The delivery marks the company's first certified Argentine soybean shipment into Vietnam under its proprietary sustainability framework and follows similar certified flows to China, Thailand and Bangladesh.

The soybeans were sold to a leading Vietnamese supplier of animal feed ingredients, supporting the country's export-oriented poultry and aquaculture sectors. Vietnam has emerged as one of Southeast Asia's most dynamic feed markets, driven by rising protein consumption, expanding seafood exports and integration into global agri-food supply chains.

"Vietnam's feed industry is closely connected to global markets where sustainability and traceability are increasingly important," said Vu Chanh Ly, commercial director Vietnam at COFCO International. "This shipment demonstrates that competitively sourced South American soy can meet robust, independently recognized sustainability standards at scale, supporting customers' export competitiveness."

The volumes were verified under Module 2 of the COFCO Responsible Agriculture Standard, which requires third-party, on-site farm audits to confirm compliance with environmental and social criteria. The certification includes a 2020 no-deforestation and no-conversion cut-off date, aligning with tightening import requirements across Asia and Europe aimed at reducing environmental risk in agricultural supply chains.

For soybean markets, the move reflects growing alignment between commodity trading houses, feed manufacturers and downstream protein exporters seeking to meet stricter environmental, social and governance (ESG) benchmarks. As global buyers increasingly demand proof of responsible sourcing, certified supply channels are becoming a competitive differentiator.

Argentina remains one of the world's leading soybean producers and exporters, and certified volumes offer traders a pathway to capture premiums or secure long-term contracts in sustainability-sensitive markets. For Southeast Asia, access to scalable, verified supply supports food security while protecting export access to markets that prioritize deforestation-free sourcing.

COFCO International said it plans to expand its certified sustainable soy supply into Southeast Asia to meet rising demand for traceable and responsibly produced commodities. The company is headquartered in Geneva and operates in 36 countries with 12,399 employees, generating $38.5 billion in revenue as part of COFCO Fortune, the core agriculture and food unit of China-based COFCO Group.

For global agriculture professionals, the shipment signals continued evolution in the soybean trade, where sustainability standards, supply chain transparency and export competitiveness increasingly intersect with traditional drivers such as yields, logistics efficiency and commodity prices. As feed demand grows alongside livestock and aquaculture production, certified sourcing frameworks are likely to play a larger role in shaping trade flows between South America and Asia.